Astrophytum myriostigma var. columnare (Astrophytum myriostigma var. columnare) Photo by: Valentino VallicelliThe stem is shaped like a bishop's headpiece or a star but slender and more thin than the standard myriostigma, already in the youth phase. Nearly every cactus collection has room for these beautiful, small plants that seldom grow more than 5 cm wide and are usually less than 50 cm tall.

Origin and Habitat: Mexico. Villar, Cerritos and far north in the area of Tula and Miquihuana in the State of Tamaulipas, Dr. Arroyo in the State of Nuevo Leon.Habitat: Prefers stony conditions in humus enriched soil, at approximately 1600 m of height of over the sea. I grows often under trees or protected by Hechtia clumps.

Description: This questionable variety is very similar to the other myriostigmas, it only deviate from the well-known typical form for its more columnar growth and smaller flowers size.Stem: Slender and more thin, already in the youth phase. Dimension 25-50(-100) cm tall, only 5-8 cm in diameter shaped like a bishop's headpiece or a star.Ribs: Few (usually 5).Flowers: Absolutely smaller than those of A. myriostigma, hardly 2,5 cm in length, pale-yellow, silk-shining, occasionally with an orange gloom.

Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Astrophytum myriostigma group

Astrophytum myriostigmaLem.: It is a spineless solitary plant covered with many white dots. A transverse section of the stem reveal a perfect 5 pointed star shaped form (like the common star-fish) giving the plant the appearance of a bishop's mitre (hence the common name Bishop's cap)

Astrophytum myriostigma f. proliferumhort.: has an abnormal tendency to branch forming small side pups from the areole. In cultivation there are several clones some of them branching like mad, while other almost normal.

Astrophytum myriostigma cv. Hakujo Fukuryu: has inherited by 'cv. Fukuryu' the felty line between contiguous areoles and by 'cv. Fukuryu' the many irregular (more or less prominent) “warts” between and on the ribs.

Astrophytum myriostigma cv. Hakujo Hakuun: has inherited by 'cv. Fukuryu' the felty line between contiguous areoles and by 'cv. Hakuun' the many irregular white flecks that condense forming characteristic cloud-like patches.

Astrophytum myriostigma cv. HanakagoTony Sato: In Japan The name “hanakago” also refers to Aztekium ritteri. It is a nude plant with a wrinkled appearance, almost "crumpled" recalling an extreme form of cv. Fukuryu.

Astrophytum myriostigma cv. Huboki: The stems and lateral branches are finger like1,5-2,5 cm in diameter, up to12 cm tall. it has white dots that condense at evenly-spaced intervals on the epidermis forming a cloud like decorative design.

Astrophytum myriostigma cv. Koh-yo: (koo-yo or kôyo) has bright yellow and red stem that gradually turn to dark green. The colouring accentuates on winter and each individual plant has its own unique particular colouration.

Astrophytum myriostigma cv. OnzukaTony Sato: (In Japanese speaking "Onzuka Ranpo-gyoku") has snowy-white, heavily speckled epidermis with fabulous markings much like the ‘kabuto’ asterias. The white marking varies considerably from plant to plant and there exist an enormous number of different designs.

Astrophytum myriostigma cv. Sazanami: has characteristic wave designs or embroidery patterns on the ribs, so it seems like the woolly areoles are connected with each other by small embroidered ripples.

Astrophytum myriostigma cv. Yoroi: (In Japanese speaking Yoroi kikko herikan) has prominent pointed tubercles along the ribs like "Kikko" and the irregular (more or less prominent) supplemental ribs between and on the ribs surface like "Fukuryiu".

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Cultivation and Propagation: Although regarded as a choice and difficult plant in cultivation it is relatively easy to grow. It is sometime seen as a grafted plant but grows very well on its own roots too. Use mineral well permeable substratum with little organic matter (peat, humus). Water sparingly from March till October and keep perfectly dry in winter at temperatures from 5 to 15 degrees centigrade. (but it is Hardy to -7°C for short periods) In the rest period no high atmospheric humidity!! Sun Exposure: Light shade to full sun.Propagation: Almost exclusively by seed. Plants are sometimes grafted onto column-shaped cacti.